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Despite claim, Israeli authorities say no evidence links Islamic State to Friday's attack in which Israeli policewoman was killed and policeman injured

The Carl Gustav automatic
rifle used in Friday's attack in Jerusalem

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Photo credit: Israel Police

Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine, and the Islamic State terrorist group all rushed to claim
responsibility for a deadly terrorist attack in the Old City of
Jerusalem over the weekend.

Border Police Staff Sgt. Hadas Malka, 23, was
fatally stabbed on Friday when a three-man terrorist cell staged two
shooting and stabbing attacks in the Old City. Malka died in hospital
shortly after the attack. A policeman sustained minor shrapnel injuries.
The three terrorists were killed by security forces.

Israeli authorities said on Saturday they had
found no evidence of Islamic State involvement in the attacks, despite
the group's claim of responsibility. Palestinian terrorist factions also
denied Islamic State was involved in the attacks.

On Friday, the Islamic State group's Amaq news
agency said three "soldiers of the caliphate" targeted "a gathering of
Jews" in Jerusalem. Calling the attack "revenge for God's religion and
for the violated sanctities of Muslims," the jihadi terrorist group said
that "with Allah's help, we succeeded in carrying out an attack in the
heart of Jerusalem."

The group warned that "this attack will not be the last."

This was the first time Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in Israel.

Zuhri said that one of the terrorists -- later
named as 18-year-old Adel Ankoush -- was a Hamas operative and the
other two were PFLP operatives.

A PFLP statement claimed the organization was
behind the attack, naming 19-year-old Osama Ata and 18-year-old Baraa
Ata as two of the terrorists involved.

"The Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine ... is responsible for sending the shahids [martyrs] that
carried out the heroic action against the soldiers of the Zionist
occupation army," the group said.

Israel Police spokeswoman Luba Simri said that
so far the IDF had found no connection between the three assailants and
any terrorist group.

"It was a local cell. At this stage, no
indication has been found it was directed by terrorist organizations nor
has any connection to any organization been found," Simri said.

Yesh Atid MK Yaakov Peri, former head of the
Shin Bet security agency, said the coordinated assault marked an
"escalation" in comparison to recent Palestinian violence against
Israeli targets, and he hoped the incident did not mark the start of a
fresh wave of attacks. He also said he doubted it had anything to do
with Islamic State.

"The ISIS claim of responsibility is absurd," he said.
"There are great differences and conflicts between ISIS and Hamas. Hamas
wants to clarify that it is involved in a national battle of the
Palestinian people with the 'Zionist occupier' and it is in its interest
to present it as such."